Layout Research

I have started to gather research for layout and cover designs for the Bratz doll lookbook. I have researched into Bratz magazines, Bratz promotional material (Bratz games and DVD covers), high fashion brands and additional magazines that I found used interesting layout and composition that would for the lookbook.

Bratz magazines:

• Main image dominating the front cover
• Logo at the top
• Very busy aesthetic, loads of additional information about what is inside- catching the consumers attention with info like 'free Bratz poster inside!'
• Headings and subheadings
• The covers hardly ever use a photo of all of the Bratz dolls, pay closer attention to an image of maybe 2 or 3
• Vibrant colours

Bratz Forever Diamondz game cover- game is available for Nintendo DS and playstation:

Bratz BFF cover- Bratz BFF is an animated DVD compilation of four episodes of the Bratz TV series that aired from 2005-2007:

I noticed that compared to the Bratz magazines, the Bratz games and DVDs always use an image of all of the Bratz dolls together as in illustration (instead of a photograph of around 2 of them)- I prefer the designs that use an illustration of all of them, as I feel that the cover needs to represent them all.

I will discuss this with Claire tomorrow, it might be quite interesting if she were to create an illustration for the cover that is inspired by the photographs that I took of all of the Bratz together in their different outfits.

I also researched into Vogue and Elle magazine covers as they focus on high fashion- one of the main reasons Bratz were so unique and iconic was because of their high fashion, stylish clothes.

Bratz slogan: the girls with the passion for fashion.

When gathering further research for inside page layout, I found the two examples below relevant and really intriguing:

1. The redesign of Brody’s influential mag, The Face- by Mirko Borsche and Alex O'Brien

Alex O'Brien: 'There was always the intention for the magazine to be a versatile mix of styles. I didn’t want the mag to be too easily led by one aesthetic, such as all low-fi film, or all glossy portraiture' - I also want the layout of the Bratz lookbook to be experimental and versatile as the lookbook is a mix of different styles and outfits. I want each page and photograph/illustration to be different to the previous page. Versatility also relates to the dolls as they're all from different cultures.

I also particularly liked the composition of the block type against the text and photograph and how it a block colour- this would be something to consider as I want to stick to a colour palette of each Bratz's favourite colour.

2. Graphic designer Victor Fonseca

I particularly enjoyed the way Victor dominates a page with a whole image but also how he combines photographs with type by cutting the photographs up or having several fit onto one page with an even amount of white space.

Some of my photographs have are quite busy so occasionally focusing on dominating a spread with just a photograph could look interesting. Also cutting up a photograph into 2-3 pieces could be something to play around with, especially for busy photographs or when focusing on small details in the outfits.

Paper stock:

Thick glossy paper stock would work for the cover as it relates to the glossy transparent plastic that is used for Bratz doll packaging. This would be too over the top to use for the inside pages so I'm thinking of using a thinner satin paper stock- similar paper stock to typical fashion magazines.

I also want to include tear out posters in the lookbook as this was a freebie feature that'd be included in old Bratz magazines. The posters would have perforated edges so they can be torn out.